CLP-induced sepsis inhibits osmotic thirst. A, Bar graphs show mean ± SEM values of serum osmolality 18–24 h after sham or CLP surgery in rats provided with water (sham, n = 7 rats; CLP, n = 4 rats) or 2% NaCl as drinking fluid (sham, n = 7 rats; CLP, n = 5 rats). B, Bar graphs show mean ± SEM cumulative fluid intake in sham (n = 6 rats) and CLP (n = 4 rats) rats given access to 2% NaCl. *p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; ns, not significant.